{"id":543496,"date":"2026-10-03T09:31:41","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T07:31:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/?p=543496"},"modified":"2026-10-03T09:31:43","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T07:31:43","slug":"virtus-bologna-zanetti-the-new-team-i-like-it-young-and-fun-we-came-close-to-signing-melli-and-shields-in-the-past","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/virtus-bologna-zanetti-the-new-team-i-like-it-young-and-fun-we-came-close-to-signing-melli-and-shields-in-the-past\/","title":{"rendered":"Virtus Bologna, Zanetti: \u201cThe new team? I like it, young and fun. We came close to signing Melli and Shields in the past\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Massimo Zanetti was interviewed exclusively by Alessandro Gallo of <em>Il Resto del Carlino<\/em>. The Virtus president discussed several topics, from the team and its new sponsor to the club\u2019s future in the EuroLeague and the new arena, as well as his ambitions, regrets and the club\u2019s centenary. Here is an excerpt from the interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>President, let\u2019s start with the team.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI like it. Younger, more reactive. Fun to watch. I think it can give us some satisfaction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A new sponsor has arrived in the meantime.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnd what a sponsor. I\u2019m really happy with the relationship we have established with Costa Cruises.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The EuroLeague issue remains.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Is the renewal missing?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere are another two years of the agreement. You\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The new Arena is due to open in December. You had said that, once the arena was delivered, you were considering your job completed.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe situation hasn\u2019t changed. But in 2027 we will celebrate the centenary. I want to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Let\u2019s go back to the team.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cPaolo Ronci built it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>He has your utmost confidence.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe could have been a lawyer, he could have done anything. Paolo is good: he knows everything and everyone. He has excellent relationships with the EuroLeague. There is a bond of affection. Many teams would want him. He prefers Bologna and Virtus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The team has changed, and the budget&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cStop. I\u2019m a little tired of reading that the budget has been reduced. We have reshaped it. Around young players.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mumbr\u00fa is on the bench.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat can I say? I\u2019m very happy with him. I didn\u2019t think he was this good. In fact, I\u2019ll say more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Go ahead.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor the first time, I don\u2019t see any substitutions different from those made by the coach. I like it. And then\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Then?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe has created a good atmosphere. Let\u2019s say he has done what my friend Brugnaro did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Hackett.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEnough said. He\u2019s our captain. I\u2019m proud of him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Belinelli has taken a different path.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYes, but these things can happen. I love him dearly. We wanted him as a player. We defended him, both him and Teodosic, when a coach (Scariolo, ed.) would have preferred to leave them out. He remains part of history.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Every year you say that your dream would be to win the Italian Cup.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTrue. It\u2019s the only trophy I\u2019m missing. To be completely honest, we haven\u2019t won the EuroLeague either. But with the numbers involved in Europe nowadays, it would be impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>So, the Italian Cup?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo, I don\u2019t want it this year (laughs, ed.). Let\u2019s see if superstition works.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Scudetto?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re there. In the sense that we want to compete for it like every year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The rivals?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe usual Milan, then Venezia, and I\u2019ll also say Napoli.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>And the two Roman teams?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHmm\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>NBA Europe?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor now, it\u2019s all talk. If the NBA were to buy the EuroLeague, it would make sense. Otherwise, I don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Virtus and the EuroLeague.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere are another two years of the agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>And the franchise?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re there for that as well. But we want to talk and negotiate. Virtus cannot be without the EuroLeague. And the EuroLeague cannot be without Virtus. We are the most iconic club in Italy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Your biggest regret?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI don\u2019t have any. But there is one player who, through no fault of his own, did not perform as we would have liked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Who?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNico Mannion. He came back from the national team completely exhausted. Professor Borghi got him back on his feet. Now he\u2019s playing. And playing well, too. But at Virtus, through no fault of his own, he did not perform as we would have liked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The biggest signing of your presidency?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEasy, Teodosic. No doubt about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Who do you like from the new group?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBaldasso. I wanted him badly. Many players make mistakes and then become hesitant. He plays with courage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Any other regrets?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNone of mine. Maybe there are players we tried to sign who later regretted not coming. And you know what I\u2019ll tell you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Go ahead.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat we want players who are proud to wear this jersey. Then\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Then?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI miss Punter. He would have liked to come back. I wanted him. But it didn\u2019t happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dreams?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, there are a couple of players I would have liked to see in black and white.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Let\u2019s reveal them.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe came close to signing Shields and Melli.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A different level of stress between being an entrepreneur and being president?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNot really. Even there, perhaps, the two roles are equivalent. I think about games where I might risk a heart attack. Then, the other night, what a disappointment. Always against Milan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Virtus were competitive, though.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cDefinitely. There was another aspect I didn\u2019t like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which one?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe refereeing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The phantom whistle?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWell, that play cost us three points. But I\u2019m also thinking about something else in a game that was decided by a couple of points.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Namely?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA basket by Carr where, clearly, our player was moved illegally. There was also a foul in our favor. Instead, the referees even gave him a foul for a correct and civil protest. Again, if you consider that we ultimately lost by a couple of points, you can do the math\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Virtus president was interviewed by \u201cIl Resto del Carlino\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":178,"featured_media":497402,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_spbk_hide_featured":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[199,259],"tags":[16251,7243],"rumors":[],"typology":[],"posizionamento":[16775],"class_list":["post-543496","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-euroleague","category-serie-a","tag-massimo-zanetti-en","tag-virtus-bologna-en","posizionamento-stories"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/05\/Massimo-Zanetti-.jpg","digistream_id":0,"digistream":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/543496","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/178"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=543496"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/543496\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":543497,"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/543496\/revisions\/543497"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/497402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=543496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=543496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=543496"},{"taxonomy":"rumors","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rumors?post=543496"},{"taxonomy":"typology","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/typology?post=543496"},{"taxonomy":"posizionamento","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportando.basketball\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posizionamento?post=543496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}